Sunday Sounds: Bears of Manitou, “Your Story”

Whether it’s done lyrically or musically, I love when a song’s emotional tone takes a surprising turn. Beginning with drums that demand attention, a keen electric guitar, and perfectly complementary dual vocals, “Your Story”, from Bears of Manitou, initially appears like a rebuke, but evolves into an emboldening message. This song focuses on the present and making the best of it.

While I usually restrain my words for a single song, I just want to say how much I love Origins, the album on which “Your Story” appears. It’s a solid, musically cohesive debut album. It begins with the upbeat “Everything I Want,” which serves as a pleasant introduction to both the band and the album. It’s a cheery indie/folk song and it’s appearance before “Your Story” is a smart juxtaposition; these first two tracks effectively show the band’s musical and lyrical range, and the rest of album lives up to that.

The next track, “Straight Ahead”, is catchy and nostalgic, with an amusing charm. “Searching For Love” musically deviates from that, with a heavier, somber sound. The bridge in that song is one of my favorites on the album; there’s a slightly jazz-y tone to it that highlights the brightness of Maria Sais de Sicilia’s voice. It’s then followed by two of my favorite tracks and track sequence: “Dear” and “Houses”. The former showcases how strong the harmonies and vocal interplay are between Sais de Sicilia and fellow vocalist Gabe Williams, while “Houses” has air of regret to it, which I love. I’ve featured “Out of Colorado” before, but here its track placement is a refreshing note that keeps Origins balanced and on an even keel. The next song, “Can’t Steal the Moon” may be my favorite of the bunch; thematically, it’s a mixture of melancholy and resignation, and musically it leans more towards their indie sound. Finally, “Home” is short and sweet with a sentiment of contentedness; it’s the perfect end to this album.

The band currently has a Kickstarter campaign to get it pressed onto physical CDs and vinyl and they have an adorable video to accompany it:

It ends on the 11th and as I write this, they need a little over $800 to reach their goal! $10 will not only get you the digital version of the album, but a physical copy as well; with $9.99 being the average price of an album on iTunes, you’re actually getting quite the deal.